The Cedar Waxwing 185 



birds changed positions in the nest. At 9 :05 a parent returned 

 with berries and the nestlings stood up and were very anxious 

 for food. In a minute the bird was off again. As it ap- 

 proached the nest at 9 :15, a goldfinch flew into a tree nearby. 

 The waxwing flew at it and seemed much disturbed. When 

 any bird flew near the nest the waxwings were much agi- 

 tated, but the presence of people seemed to frighten them very 

 little. During the summer I had observed a catbird, robin, 

 thrush and junco and they were all much more excited by 

 \>; the presence of people^ than the waxwings were. It is possible 

 that the pair I studied were unusually courageous, and they 

 may have become used to people gradually. Nevertheless, it 

 was remarkable how little disturbed they were by my pres- 

 ence on the box near the nest. When the waxwing returned 

 from chasing the goldfinch, a bird's song seemed to disturb 

 it. The young chirped loudly, evidently disappointed at not 

 getting food. At 9 :30 a parent brought blue, berries, regurg- 

 itating them very rapidly, while the little birds stretched their 

 necks, moved their wings and were much excited. Ten min- 

 utes later they were fed again, but they were calmer, and 

 when the bird flew off (at 9 :42) they settled down to sleep. 



At 1 :15 a parent flew to a tree south of the nest and re- 

 mained there for five minutes, uttering low calls, which the 

 young answered. Fifteen minutes later it flew to the young, 

 but did not feed them until a minute later, when it placed an 

 unbroken blue berry in the bill of one of the young birds, and 

 then removed it, as the nestling was unable to swallow it 

 whole. The parent then broke the berry up and gave them 

 parts of it. Two minutes later both parents flew past the 

 nest and called to the nestlings, who opened their mouths, but 

 did not answer. At 1 :47 a parent brought more berries to the 

 young, and again at 1 :55. One of the young stood upon the 

 edge of the nest and flapped its wings. A minute later the 

 nestlings were fed more berries. At 2 :10 one of the young 

 birds pecked at a leaf above its head. Five minutes later 

 they were fed more amelanchier berries and became quiet. 



